Despite all the troubles Ukraine has suffered in recent months, Ukrainians did not lose interest in fine music. While several summer music festivals, including the legendary Kazantip festival and Ukraine’s biggest rock festival Best City.UA, were canceled or moved abroad due to the unsafe situation in the country, many of them will welcome music lovers as usual.
Kyiv Post offers you a list of summer music festivals for any taste and budget.
O-Fest (jazz, operetta)
This year the O-Fest festival brings together leading artists, musicians and conductors from 15 countries of Europe and Asia. The headliner will be famous Ukrainian singer Jamala. The festival’s main theme is operetta and traditional music of countries-participants, performed in a number of outdoor concerts.
Bucha, Kyiv Oblast
May 31 − June 1
Lineup: Jamala (headliner) and others.
www.operetta.com.ua
Kraina Mriy (ethnic)
Founded by Ukrainian Oleh Skrypka, frontman of the popular Vopli Vidoplyasova rock band, the annual Krayina Mriy (Land of Dreams) festival will take place on the first weekend of July in Kyiv. A variety of ethnic and folk music performers from around the world will gather for one fun weekend in Kyiv. Program will also include master-classes and art exhibitions.
Feofania Park, Kyiv
July 5-6
Hr 100
Lineup: Oleh Skrypka, jazz-cabaret Zabava, Boombox, Toumast, Kissmet, Earth Wheel Sky Band, Perkalaba, The Vieux, Miazsz and more.
www.krainamriy.com
Ostrov Festival (electronic)
Ostrov Festival will last two days in a non-stop regime: from the evening of June 7 to late night of June 9 – fortunately all days are weekends due to the Trinity holiday. The latest trends of the electronic music world will be presented at three locations on Trukhaniv Island – two nighttime stages and one daytime stage.
The festivals Metal Heads Mission, Sziget Kyiv, Taras Bulba, The Best City.UA are cancelled. Kazantip will be moved to Anaklia, Georgia. Susidniy Svit will be moved to Russia.
Trukhaniv Island, Kyiv
June 7-9
Lineup: Ricardo Villalobos, Art Department, DJ Koze, Guy Gerber, tINI, Raresh+Praslea, Nastia, Rayo/Yate, Timur Basha/Vova KLK/Shakolin, Joseph/Kon’ and more.
www.qievdance.com
Art Pole (ethnic)
This year’s Art Pole festival will be held for the 12th time in a row. The main part will take place in picturesque Dniester Canyon, while the final performance will be held on the bank of the Dniester river. Both Ukrainian and foreign bands and musicians are expected to come. Among other entertainments, Art Pole will offer master-classes in crafts and theater.
Unizh, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
July 7-12
Hr 20 for event in Seleznevka village
Lineup: Wild Marmelade, Karbido and others
www.artpolefest.org
Koktebel Jazz Festival (jazz)
This jazz festival has been taking place in Crimea’s Koktebel for 10 consecutive years and was one of Ukraine’s best and most known festivals. But this year the festival changes its location and moves to Kyiv. The change was necessary because of the Crimea annexation that is expected to be followed by the failure of the holiday season. The festival’s lineup includes many foreign and Ukrainian performers, not all of them actually playing jazz music.
Kyiv
Sept. 12-15
Hr 500 for season ticket
Lineup: Z-Band, Yuko Okamoto, Pianoboy, Bonobo, The Hardkiss, Viktor Pavlik, David Helbock, Atlantida
www.koktebel.info/ru
Kyiv Post intern Maryna Shapka can be reached at [email protected]
